Tonight we discovered another reason why we like living in Portland - and her name is Grandma Leeth. I'm not actually sure who Grandma Leeth is and we certainly haven't met her (yet, anyway) but she owns one of our new favorite restaurants. Or, at least we assume she does.
We came upon Grandma Leeth and her restaurant when one of Jeff's coworkers organized a happy hour this evening for the Point B parental types, defined more specifically as those employees and their spouses/partners with one or more kiddos. It was announced that the meeting place would be "Grandma Leeth's" family restaurant in the Cedar Hills shopping center, aka strip mall. Which was all great on one hand because it's really close to our house, but on the other hand - I'm already not feeling like we're in for a fine dining/drinking experience given the description. But the catch was that apparently this place comes equipped with childcare. Really? Now we're talking.
So Jeff, Ian and I show up at Grandma Leeth's at approximately 5:08 this evening - according to the time stamp sticker on Ian's back - where we are greeted by friendly staff who, after requiring us to sign some sort of waiver (I wonder what that was all about?), whisk our son away to a fully staffed room that resembles something out of Candyland. Okay, not really but it was this whole enclosed area with windows that had more toys in it than Richie Rich could ever dream of. And, super clean, too. Then, we are directed to the upstairs area of the restaurant which we learn has been reserved for the Point B parental-type happy hour. Excellent. My migraine, which is in about its 10th straight day now, is starting to feel better already. Now all I need is a glass of red wine - because that's the way to really cure a bad headache, as we all know.
Once upstairs, a lovely table of appetizers awaits and all the parental types begin actually socializing freely while gazing down in amazement at the little kiddos like they are goldfish we've just brought home to a new aquarium. And the kids don't even know (or care) where we are because they are too busy drawing, cooking up something in the "kitchen", playing with Thomas Train on the train table, being read to and generally having a great time.
With beverages in hand, it's time to order dinner. And just when all us parental types are thinking the party's over - we learn that no sirree, they don't need to come up and join us for dinner - we just order for them and they will bring their meals into the playroom downstairs and sit them down at the little table and make sure they have a nice, nutritious meal while we enjoy our meals upstairs. Does this place get any better?? Suddenly I find myself wondering how many times a week it would be "acceptable" to have dinner here. Four nights? Five nights? Certainly every Friday and Saturday wouldn't be too much to ask, would it? Do they take standing reservations? Inquiring minds want to know.
Before we knew it, we had downed appetizers, drinks, dinner AND dessert before Ian showed up upstairs, accompanied by one of the playroom staff members who said, "He says he has to go to the bathroom." Which was interesting given he's never said that to us in his life and isn't even close to being potty trained but hey, maybe tonight was a new beginning. But it was nearing his bedtime, so maybe that was more his way of saying he was tired and ready to go home. Fine, good enough. We won't push it on Night One.
Now, it is here that I feel compelled to mention that Grandma Leeth's doesn't exactly have the best food in town, but really, that's a small price to pay for the opportunity to eat your meal in peace and in tonight's case, enjoy some real adult conversation to boot! (Though, I'm not going to tell you what we mostly talked about...)
In the end, it's safe to say that a good time was had by all at Grandma Leeth's and this may be joining the Point B roster of family/social events as we are already talking about the next one. Of course the Burpos will be regulars by that point. Oh, and this is one of two or three of these type of places that exist in Portland, so we'll likely be hitting the others at some point soon. I'm thinking maybe tomorrow night?
Until I write again.
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